Liverpool legend and ex-England midfielder Steven Gerrard (Picture: Getty)
Steven Gerrard admits defending champions Liverpool are out of the title race and ‘expects’ current leaders Arsenal to be crowned Premier League champions.
The Gunners, who last won the Premier League in 2004, boast a seven-point lead at the top of the table ahead of Sunday’s clash with Manchester United.
Arsenal’s title hopes have been boosted by Manchester City’s recent dip, with Pep Guardiola’s side drawing three games in a row before a deflating derby defeat to United.
Mikel Arteta’s team were second or perhaps even third favourites to win the Premier League before the season began behind reigning champions Liverpool and Man City.
Liverpool won the title by 10 points last season before bolstering Arne Slot’s squad with over £400m of summer signings.
The sensational spending has now had the desired effect, however, with Liverpool winning less than half of their league games to slip 14 points behind title favourites Arsenal.
Liverpool have steadied the ship in recent weeks, going 13 games unbeaten in all competitions, but that run includes four successive draws in the Premier League.
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Arsenal beat Inter Milan last time out (Picture: Getty)
While Gerrard acknowledges Liverpool are already out of the title race, he says his former club still have ‘a lot to play for’, most significantly the Champions League.
A 3-0 win over Marseille on Wednesday night leaves the Reds fourth in the Champions League ahead of their final group game against Qarabag next week.
While Liverpool attempt to salvage a disappointing season in Europe, Arsenal are fighting on both fronts, topping both the Premier League and Champions League table.
Arne Slot after Liverpool’s win at Marseille (Picture: Getty)
Gerrard says it is hard to predict what will happen in the title race but ‘expects’ Arsenal to end their 22-year wait for a Premier League trophy.
‘Arne Slot needs this consistently now,’ Gerrard said on TNT Sports after Liverpool’s impressive victory over Ligue 1 side Marseille.
‘We know they’ve got the quality and the experience to produce performances like this, that’s why it’s so frustrating for Liverpool supporters.
‘It’s because of the standard this team have set. We haven’t seen this run of form from them for a very long time and that’s why it’s so frustrating and surprising.
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‘You have to respect them for turning things around and becoming harder to beat. Okay, I think we know in the league they’re out of the title race for the time being.
‘Who knows what’s going to happen but you expect Arsenal to go on and win that. But there’s still an awful lot for this Liverpool team to play for.
‘The FA Cup is huge, finishing in the top-four is huge but more importantly they’re still in the Champions League.
‘If they can keep this group fit, this team has proved they can go the distance in this competition so there’s still a lot to play for.’
Arsenal beat Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday night and resume their Premier League title charge on Sunday against Manchester United.
Ruben Amorim was sacked by Old Trafford bosses earlier in the month but United travel to the Emirates Stadium off the back of an impressive derby win over Man City.
Liverpool, meanwhile, will look to boost their top-four hopes when they travel to the south coast to face Bournemouth.
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